There's another piece on the front page here too - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=7651968
I'm struggling to figure out what the big problem is with more people becoming entrepreneurs?
This may be a perfectly good short-term way to earn some cash, but the article is about the bigger picture for our economy. Don't pretend to not understand when you're really just tuning it out.
That's true of entrepreneurs in general. I think most of the people doing that would rather have "poor job security" than "no job security" (or the alternative of simply no job) - which is the case for almost all workers without specific special skills.
> Is this a fundamentally better model for the middle class than being an Avon salesperson?
Comparing it to MLM who's business model is dependent on replicating itself is a completely different use case than what this is.
Of course, but these people have the insecurity of small businesses without the potential upside of having an ownership stake in a business.
Nothing, I guess.
Same with AirBnb.
If they're not making money - why would they be doing it?
Theres a reason most of these industries have existed unregulated through out history, exploitation occurs, become regulated, and are now reappearing with a new tact and hitting up existing laws... and hence all the court cases where they are desperately trying to claim the services aren't illegal.
Theres a lot of consumer safety to be considered you rarely hear of, let alone what is technically stealing by reselling things you don't own. Theres a reason regulation happens, and its usually because exploitation occurs.
And the pimp as the 'enabler',
(although ostensibly benign)
This seems a tad overly dramatic
But it works for an essay / thought piece.
Pimping definitely scales better, for example.
(Scale also diversifies revenue streams)
Whereas 'whoring' does not scale well;
its not long-term a viable profession.
(exploits the young/etc)